Audit Scotland Newshttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news.xml
enScottish Social Services Council&#039;s ICT project &#039;lacked clarity&#039;http://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/scottish-social-services-councils-ict-project-lacked-clarity
The Auditor General has raised concerns about the management of an ICT project at the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
Caroline Gardner says the SSSC's ending of a shared services agreement with the Care Inspectorate to pursue a separate ICT strategy lacked good governance and transparent decision-making.Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5425&#039;Urgent need&#039; for NHS Tayside to set out financial planshttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/urgent-need-for-nhs-tayside-to-set-out-financial-plans
Urgent action is needed to address NHS Tayside's financial position amid ongoing changes to the make-up of its leadership team, says the Auditor General.
Caroline Gardner's fourth consecutive report on the health board notes its worsening financial position and significant challenges to meeting its financial and performance targets.Thu, 06 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5418Scottish income tax report covers key audit riskshttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/scottish-income-tax-report-covers-key-audit-risks
The National Audit Office has published a report today on HMRC’s administration of Scottish income tax, including the final calculation of Scottish revenues for the 2016/17 tax year.Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5414Councils holding up but financial pressures continuehttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/councils-holding-up-but-financial-pressures-continue
Scotland's 32 councils have managed budgets well over the last year but face a difficult time ahead, says the Accounts Commission.
In its annual financial overview published today, the local authority spending watchdog says councils face a complex range of challenges and continuing pressure on finance.Thu, 29 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commissionhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5415Report on governance at Community Justice Scotlandhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/report-on-governance-at-community-justice-scotland
The Auditor General has submitted a report to the Scottish Parliament relating to governance issues at Community Justice Scotland (CJS) in its first year of operation.Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5388Improvement at Dumfries and Galloway needs to continuehttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/improvement-at-dumfries-and-galloway-needs-to-continue
Dumfries and Galloway Council has made good progress and needs to take this further to meet the challenges it is facing, says the Accounts Commission.
A report published today by the local authority watchdog contrasts with a 2009 report which identified serious weaknesses in leadership, management and services.Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commissionhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5411Scottish Police Authority improves but financial concerns remainhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/scottish-police-authority-improves-but-financial-concerns-remain
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has made progress but concerns remain about its ability to balance its budget and meet longer term strategic objectives.Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5405Better collaboration needed to deliver health and social care integrationhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/better-collaboration-needed-to-deliver-health-and-social-care-integration
While some improvements have been made to the delivery of health and social care services, Integration Authorities, councils and NHS boards need to show a stronger commitment to collaborative working to achieve the real long term benefits of an integrated system.Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commission, Auditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5403East Lothian makes good progress as testing times lie aheadhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/east-lothian-makes-good-progress-as-testing-times-lie-ahead
East Lothian Council has improved significantly but faces big challenges with a rising population, says the Accounts Commission.Thu, 01 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commissionhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5385Urgent action needed to tackle mounting pressures in the NHShttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/urgent-action-needed-to-tackle-mounting-pressures-in-the-nhs
Immediate action is needed to shift the NHS towards long-term, fundamental change.Thu, 25 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5381Report on Scottish Public Pensions Agencyhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/report-on-scottish-public-pensions-agency
The Auditor General has submitted a report to the Scottish Parliament relating to the 2017/18 accounts of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA).Thu, 04 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5374Auditor General reports on significant financial challenges at two NHS boardshttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/auditor-general-reports-on-significant-financial-challenges-at-two-nhs-boards
The Auditor General has reported to the Scottish Parliament that NHS Highland and NHS Ayrshire and Arran face significant financial challenges, which are likely to continue in the years ahead.Tue, 02 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5373Reporting of government accounts should be &#039;more transparent&#039;http://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/reporting-of-government-accounts-should-be-more-transparent
The Scottish Government needs to be more transparent about the annual reporting of its accounts, including loans to private companies, says the Auditor General.
The 2017/18 consolidated accounts - which received an unqualified audit opinion - show that the overall budget was underspent by £339m, compared to £85m in 2016/17.Thu, 27 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5368Broadband roll-out faces its toughest hurdlehttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/broadband-roll-out-faces-its-toughest-hurdle
The Scottish Government achieved its initial target to provide fibre broadband access to 95 per cent of premises. Its more recent 'Reaching 100 per cent' ambition will be more difficult to realise.Thu, 20 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5364Step change required to tackle young people&#039;s mental healthhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/step-change-required-to-tackle-young-peoples-mental-health
A big increase in young people being referred to mental health services and longer waiting times are signs of a system under significant pressure, says a new report.
The Auditor General and the Accounts Commission have called for a step change in the way the public sector responds to the mental health needs of children and young people.Thu, 13 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commission, Auditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5361Glasgow makes steady progress but serious concern over potential financial pressureshttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/glasgow-makes-steady-progress-but-serious-concern-over-potential-financial-pressures
Glasgow City Council has made steady progress over the last decade and has a clear plan to tackle the city's challenges, says a new Accounts Commission report.
But the watchdog has serious concerns that Scotland's biggest local authority may be facing a period of unprecedented financial pressure on services because of the potential cost of resolving equal pay claims.Thu, 23 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commissionhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5333£1.3bn Queensferry Crossing managed effectively http://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/%C2%A313bn-queensferry-crossing-managed-effectively
Transport Scotland's management of the Forth Replacement Crossing project delivered value for money but a clearer plan is needed to measure its wider benefits, says a new report.
Auditor General Caroline Gardner found that the £1.34bn infrastructure scheme – which cost at least £110m less than expected - was managed effectively.Thu, 02 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5318Counter-fraud operation could save public purse £19m http://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/counter-fraud-operation-could-save-public-purse-%C2%A319m
Scotland's public finances have been boosted after a data-sharing exercise identified nearly £19 million of fraud and error across the public sector.
Almost 100 public bodies participated in the latest National Fraud Initiative (NFI), which is coordinated by Audit Scotland every two years.Thu, 05 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMTAudit Scotlandhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5307 Year of Young People 2018 – getting involvedhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/year-of-young-people-2018-%E2%80%93-getting-involved
We’ve just launched our Year of Young People e-hub. It’s a great opportunity for us to celebrate the role of young people within Audit Scotland and the ways in which school age children have helped us raised thousands for our corporate charity.Wed, 04 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMTAudit Scotlandhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5308West Dunbartonshire Council makes significant progress http://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/west-dunbartonshire-council-makes-significant-progress
In a report out today, the Accounts Commission makes clear the significant progress that West Dunbartonshire Council has made in recent years.
The report from the local authority spending watchdog says a critical part of the progress made has been the effective and improved leadership of councillors and officers, sharing a commitment to making improvements.Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commissionhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5301Colleges&#039; financial health improves but challenges remainhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/colleges-financial-health-improves-but-challenges-remain
A deal to harmonise staff pay at a cost of £50m a year will absorb projected savings from the reform of Scotland's colleges, says the Auditor General.
Caroline Gardner's annual report on colleges says the sector reported a very small surplus in its underlying financial position in 2016/17, compared to the previous year's £8m deficit.Thu, 21 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5295Transformation on the table at public service discussionshttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/transformation-on-the-table-at-public-service-discussions
The Improvement Service and Audit Scotland hosted a round table on transformational change in January, with public service and third sector leaders, policy makers and partners attending to speak about their experiences.Wed, 20 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMTAudit Scotlandhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5298Scottish Fire and Rescue Service takes &#039;cautious approach&#039; to reformhttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/scottish-fire-and-rescue-service-takes-cautious-approach-to-reform
Turning the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) into a more flexible, modern service has been steady but slow, says the Auditor General.
Caroline Gardner's report says real progress has been made with integrating the eight former services into a single body.Thu, 31 May 2018 00:00:00 GMTAuditor Generalhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5171East Ayrshire Council – maintains strong performance, continues to improve but faces financial challengeshttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/east-ayrshire-council-%E2%80%93-maintains-strong-performance-continues-to-improve-but-faces-financial
In a report out today, the Accounts Commission highlights that East Ayrshire Council is performing well, services are improving, and there is strong partnership working.
The report from the local authority spending watchdog, says the council has maintained the strong performance reported in previous audits in 2006 and 2010.Tue, 29 May 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commissionhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5168Fife Council continues to improve in the face of major challengeshttp://audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/fife-council-continues-to-improve-in-the-face-of-major-challenges
In a report out today, the Accounts Commission highlights that Fife Council continues to improve and has tackled aspects of underperformance head on.
This report, by Scotland’s local authority spending watchdog, charts the council's progress since a previous audit in 2009.Thu, 24 May 2018 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Commissionhttp://auditscotland.spiderdev/node/5164